Irreplaceable loss: The cradle of civilisation in danger of disappearing

World Heritage

The civil war in Syria has had immeasurable human consequences. Over 220,000 have died, four million have fled the country and seven million are internally displaced.

But the civil war has also severely damaged the many ancient cities and archaeological sites in Syria, including the six areas included on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

But why worry over a bunch of ancient ruins, when people are being killed or fleeing their homes? — Of course it is primarily the human tragedies that you have to worry about. But having said that, Syria has so many antiquities dating back to the beginning of civilization showing its history. So in that sense it is also part of our heritage, says Ingolf Thuesen, head of the Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies at the University of Copenhagen for TV2.